Borthwick targeting all-rounder status

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Scott Borthwick is desperate to continue his development with both bat and ball in a bid to help Durham lift some domestic silverware this season.

The promising leg-spinner enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2011, taking 37 wickets and scoring 470 runs from his 30 matches across all three formats.

Borthwick’s efforts, which included his first senior five-wicket haul in the LV= County Championship clash at Sussex, also earned him international recognition.

Yet while he is primarily regarded for his bowling, Borthwick wants to show he can also shine with the bat - starting this year.

“That’s definitely my aim,” he told ecb.co.uk. “Over the next three or four years, where I want to be is a number six batsman who can bowl as well.

“I enjoyed last year, I felt like I learnt a lot and hopefully I can kick on again this year and keep improving and keep learning.

“I try not to look too far ahead, take it game by game and score as many runs and take as many wickets (as I can). I know it’s an old cliche but that’s all I’m looking to do.”

Borthwick will undoubtedly be given the chance to push his credentials as Durham bid to recover from the inauspicious start they made to the championship season.

A heavy 114-run defeat at home against Nottinghamshire last week belied their claim to being one of the favourites for four-day glory at the start of the campaign.

Scott Borthwick hopes he can continue to improve with both bat and ball in an effort to become a genuine all-rounder in the future

Borthwick knows the championship is stronger than ever, yet he remains optimistic Durham can emerge at the top of the pile come September.

“This year we’ve got a massive chance as we’ve got everyone fully fit,” he said. “We just want to win some silverware, the championship’s the main one.

“The winners from last year Lancashire will be strong again.

“The two sides who have come up, Surrey and Middlesex, will be strong. There’s definitely four or five contenders who can win it.”

Borthwick, who turns 22 on Thursday, was wicketless and scored just 28 runs against Chris Read’s men, yet he is hopeful of contributing match-winning performances that will enhance his chances of further international call-ups.

He made his England debut in the one-day international against Ireland last summer and also featured in the two-match Twenty20 series against West Indies before playing in the fourth ODI against India in Mumbai - experiences he has hailed as “unbelievable”.

“I think you realise how good you’ve got to be to do well at that standard to consistently perform,” he said.

“I only played a couple of games but just being there in India watching the Indians bat in their conditions made me realise how good you’ve got to be.

“Just being around the England side, learning from world-class players and playing against world-class players - the whole experience was awesome and learning from that has been really good.”

When asked if he thought he was knocking on the door for international selection again, Borthwick added: “I’d like to think so but obviously I’m not trying to look too far ahead.

“I just want to try and score some runs for Durham and take some wickets for Durham and win games for Durham and hopefully the selections will come later down the line.”

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